Miniature golf at Modern Woodmen Park

Through the years, Modern Woodmen Park, home of the Quad Cities River Bandits (A Full Season affiliate of the Houston Astros), has become a kind of fun fair. Next to the Ferris wheel behind left field and the carousel the team acquired in the last off season, there will be another attraction (or distraction from baseball?). 

Main Street Baseball, the owner of the Quad Cities River Bandits, has added several non-baseball related attractions through the years. Next to the Ferris wheel behind the left field wall, the club also offers the Bounce House, the Train Ride, the River Rocker, the Mediacom Drop N Twist, Bumper Cars, the Windup (Dance Party 360), Double Play (Reverse Time) and the Genesis Kidz Koaster.

And for those who are wondering where the double decked carousel of Pier 39 in San Francisco went to, well, Main Street Baseball bought that one too and brought it to Davenport Iowa as well.

But apparently, eight attractions aren’t enough as Main Street Baseball is planning to install an 18 hole miniature golf course behind the base of the Ferris wheel, an area which is now totally open.

Main Street Baseball’s CEO Dave Heller stated: “Mini-golf will attract families to Davenport’s beautiful riverfront. It will take an area that’s currently an eyesore and make it genuinely attractive. It will give young people throughout the Quad-Cities another fun (and affordable) amenity to enjoy all summer long. And it will make our wonderful ballpark, already voted “the Best Minor League Ballpark in America,” even more of a regional attraction.

Best of all, it won’t cost taxpayers more money; Roby and I would pay for the course ourselves. Approval would even save taxpayers the cost of maintaining this land. And, yes, the course would be open even when the River Bandits are on the road.

Now, armed with the Downtown Partnership’s unanimous endorsement, we’re seeking approval from the Riverfront Improvement Commission for the miniature golf course.”

Nice tidbit is that for every ride on the amusements at Modern Woodmen Park, the River Bandits and Main Street Amusements donate 50 cents to Genesis Health Services Foundation health initiatives for children, including the Flu-Free Quad Cities campaign, Camp Genesis for kids who have someone close to them with cancer and Genesis Neonatal Intensive Care services to help struggling newborn babies.